After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.
Director:
Joe Dante
From metacritic.com
Carla Gugino discusses the fearless attitude she brings to every role, including in her new Cinemax series, "Jett."
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Title: The Howling (1981)
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2 wins & 2 nominations.
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Dee Wallace | ... | Karen White | |
| Patrick Macnee | ... | Dr. George Waggner | |
| Dennis Dugan | ... | Chris Halloran | |
| Christopher Stone | ... | R. William 'Bill' Neill | |
| Belinda Balaski | ... | Terry Fisher | |
| Kevin McCarthy | ... | Fred Francis | |
| John Carradine | ... | Erle Kenton | |
| Slim Pickens | ... | Sam Newfield | |
| Elisabeth Brooks | ... | Marsha Quist | |
| Robert Picardo | ... | Eddie Quist | |
 |
Margie Impert | ... | Donna |
| Noble Willingham | ... | Charlie Barton | |
| James Murtaugh | ... | Jerry Warren | |
|
|
James MacKrell | ... | Lew Landers (as Jim McKrell) |
| Kenneth Tobey | ... | Older Cop | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (150) »
Storyline
In a red light district, newswoman Karen White is bugged by the police, investigating serial killer Eddie Quist, who has been molesting her through phone calls. After police officers find them in a peep-show cabin and shoot Eddie, Karen becomes emotionally disturbed and loses her memory. Hoping to conquer her inner demons, she heads for the Colony, a secluded retreat where the creepy residents are rather too eager to make her feel at home. There also seems to be a bizarre connection between Eddie Quist and this supposedly safe haven. And when, after nights of being tormented by unearthly cries, Karen ventures into the forest and makes a terrifying discovery. Written by Tim Kretschmann <Tim.K@VirComm.com>
Plot Keywords:
psychiatrist | forest | female full frontal nudity | outdoor sex | monster |Taglines:
Imagine your worst fear a reality. See more »Genres:
HorrorParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
10 April 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Aullidos See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$1,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$17,986,000Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Dr. George Waggner: Repression. Repression is the father of neurosis, of self-hatred. Now, stress results when we fight against our impulses. We've all heard people talk about animal magnetism, the natural man. the noble savage, as if we'd lost something valuable in our long evolution into civilized human beings. Now there's a good reason for this.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Robert Picardo improvised the line "I want to give you a piece of my mind" before pulling out a bullet from his head. See more »Goofs
When Terry is in Dr. Waggner's office talking to Chris on the phone, there is an over-the-shoulder shot of Chris. Just before it cuts back to Terry in the office, a crew-member's shadow is visible moving toward Chris. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Dr. George Waggner: Repression. Repression is the father of neurosis, of self-hatred. Now, stress results when we fight against our impulses. We've all heard people talk about animal magnetism, the natural man. the noble savage, as if we'd lost something valuable in our long evolution into civilized human beings. Now there's a good reason for this.
See more »
Crazy Credits
A burger being fried on a grill plays out over the closing credits. See more »Alternate Versions
In the French video version (TF1) The scene where "Eddie" rips a bullet out of his forehead just before turning into a werewolf is missing. The theater version was uncut though. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Joe Dante is a great fan of the horror genre, and most of his films are dedicated to that passion directly, as in his film creations, and indirectly, with his use of inside jokes and references and his use of beloved figures from the genre itself in small roles. It is this passion and love that makes his films special, and The Howling is no different. It is a boost for the relatively weak sub-genre of lycanthropy. It has marvellous special effects which are still quite good by today's standards, some good humour, well-choreographed chase scenes, and some good acting. The script is weak and laden with cliches, but remember it is a parody in ways. Dante names characters using the names of great horror directors(his idols I imagine) such as Terry Fisher, Freddie Francis, and Erle Kenton. Forrest J. Ackerman, Roger Corman, John Sayles, Dick Miller, John Carradine, Kenneth Tobey, and Kevin McCarthy make appearances. Patrick Macnee is quite good in his role, and Dee Wallace is excellent in her screaming way. Overall a fine film!